Teens get tips as PBA Hubbard opens

March 23, 2019 at 12:10a.m.

Professionals share advice

HUBBARD

Girard and Lakeview boys, Hubbard girls and Austintown Fitch mixed squads won Junior Pro-Am titles Friday during festivities kicking off this weekend’s 9th Hubbard Open at Bell Wick Bowl.

Professionals assisted the 18 high school squads that took part in a clinic prior to the Junior Pro-Am event. They served as team anchor during the six Baker games as they lent valuable information and tips to area scholastic keglers hoping to improve their game.

Three-time defending champion Matt O’Grady of Rahway, N.J., is the lead instructor for Dexter Shoes, the No. 1 bowling shoe in the world.

O’Grady estimates that he has given more than 1,500 instructions.

“My passion is to impart some knowledge to those at the clinic with the hope that it will improve their game,” O’Grady said. “I’ve been giving lessons since I was 18 years old and this is fun.

“I grew up on wood lanes and love the lanes here at Bell Wick Bowl.

“For my type of release, I have a lot of hand action which is called axis tilt and axis rotation,” he said. “Those are the two things that make the ball change direction down the lane and it’s necessary to teach that to the younger bowlers to make their ball livelier.”

Girard senior Donny Bishop, a four-time conference player of the year, was attending his first Hubbard Open Junior Clinic. He finished 31st at this year’s state high school bowling tournament.

“The past three years I’ve been traveling and after this, I’ll leave for Columbus to compete in the state singles championship at H.P. Lanes,” Bishop said. “I’m looking to get my foot in the door with the pros and expand my horizons, hoping to possibly turn pro next year.”

Fitch’s Renee Seebacher finished 26th at state this year and will attend Youngstown State in the fall.

“I need work on my timing and seven pins,” she said. “I feel like I have late timing, so it is my hope is to receive some instruction in that area.”

Sophomore Maggie Lewis of Hubbard was MVP of the Northeast 8 Athletic Conference.

“I like the clinic because you get to work with a professional,” Lewis said. “We’re taught well by our coaches, but it’s also nice when you can get another perspective about your game.”

Lakeview’s Charles Pawlosky averaged 217 as a freshman for the Bulldogs.

“My head game is horrible. I have a bad temper and need to get it under control,” Pawlosky said. “I’m sure they will tell me that you have to forget a bad shot, move on but learn from it.”

Lowellville’s Haylie Rotz finished second at state with a 619 series, her third consecutive trip to state for the Rockets.

I’m looking for help in all parts of my game,” Rotz said. “I want to see how professionals handle themselves during games.”

Kevin Cox was a member of the winning Fitch mixed squad.

“I’m a junior and this was my first varsity season. I’m looking to be more consistent,” Cox noted. “Professional Jim Dilyard worked with us and helped me with different hand positions.”

Today, the eight-game morning session begins at 9 a.m. The afternoon session starts at 3 p.m. with the top-16 players advancing to Sunday’s finals.

Sunday’s round robin match play (12 games) is set to begin at 9 a.m. with the top five players qualifying set for a stepladder roll-off.